Transformative Grace in Athens
Through Communitas International, we partner with local believers to bring the gospel in word and deed across our city for hearts, minds and lives to be transformed for God's kingdom
Who We Are
An American woman met a Greek man at a cafe in central London. It may sound like the set-up to a good joke, but it’s really their calling to ministry and intercultual living. As their dating relationship grew serious, so did their interest in serving in Thanos’s home country of Greece. They were married in March 2023 in London and moved to Athens one year later in March 2024.
Kristen and Thanos's prayer is God’s kingdom growing in Greece, specifically to those under-resourced. Through their local church in Kypseli, they serve in numerous ministries using their backgrounds in hospitality and community development.
They are lifelong learners who nerd out over new discoveries. Thanos plays guitar and studies at the Greek Bible College. Kristen is continuing her mastery of the Greek language through tutoring sessions, conversational practice, and frequent mistakes while shopping at the farmers market.
Kristen and Thanos enjoy being a multicultural couple; representing five countries and two languages in their marriage. They share a love for cooking, documentaries, and exploring new places. Their cat Freddie is enjoying his retirement life in Greece after being rescued from the mean streets of London, and passes his time with bird watching and cuddles.
What We Do
Our Ministries
Through Communitas International, we are partnering with Kypseli Church to serve the community in numerous ways:
Moms And Tots
Empowering local families through support, play, education, and community through weekly and monthly gatherings in 3+ languages
Worship
Equipping the church through participation in the music during Sunday worship services and assisting in the A/V desk on a regular basis
Bible Studies
Hosting weekly Bible studies in our home where everyone is welcome to explore God's word more thoroughly and to deepen our fellowship
Special Events
Providing professional culinary skills to serve nutritious and filling meals for the community that allow more opportunities for the church to build relationships
Kypseli Kids
Facilitating monthly events for elementary-aged kids to eat healthy food, play games in a safe environment, and learn more about Jesus in several languages
Discipleship
Growing the local church through 1:1 meeting for spiritual growth, encouragement for weary hearts, and emboldening all to the call of Christ
What We're About
Vision and Values
Gospel Centrality
We affirm the upmost importance of the Gospel as the keystone and end goal of our work. We affirm the Nicene and Apostles Creeds as our statements of faith and belief. We believe that the gospel is good news not just for the new believer or the not-yet-believer, but also for seasoned ministry workers. Therefore, we are committed to serve in ministry from a place of dependency on Christ's work and daily renewal in the gospel.
Holistic Care
We follow an Incarnational God whose earthly mission wasn't just the saving of souls but also health and restoration to bodies, minds, and communities. Because sin permeates every corner of our physical bodies and earth, God's resortation must come to every one of those spaces as well. We are committed to seeing every person and neighbourhood as full, complex, and redeemed organisisms worthy of all the love and dignity that God bestows on all his creation. We also strive not to take the place of qualified professionals and to provide referrals when appropriate.
Humility and Respect
The world already has a savior and our egos have no place in ministry. We recognise that God has been at work in our community for thousands of years and it is not our ideas nor our hard work that will make lasting change. We are dedicated to listening and learning for how Jesus is at work, and to partner in that humbly. As outsiders to the Athenian culture are committed to start from a posture of holy curiosity and dependence on the Spirit.
Creative Collaboration
Driven by the High Priestly Prayer in John 17, we are committed to see the unity of Christ's body in Athens. We seek to work in collaboration with local Christians and churches so that the name of Christ is praised more than any single church or individual. We recognise that Kingdom growth takes on many forms from Bible studies, sketch clubs, kids camps, and everything in between. Diversity of backgrounds, personalities, and communities across Athens requires diverse, creative, and collaborative methods of sharing the Good News. We are committed to a playful dependence on the Spirit that leads to adaptive, harmonious, and gospel-centred ministries.
Accountability
Honesty and authenticity are at the heart of our ministry. We maintain the highest standards of integrity in all our actions, ensuring that our work is transparent and accountable to those we serve and our supporters. We are committed to good stewardship of all the resources God has entrusted to us - financial, relational, and spiritual. We are committed to faithful following the Word of God, to caring for others with utmost respect and regular repentance, and transparent use of financial gifts.
Join Our Team
God didn't call us to ministry alone.; we trust his provision in a team of support. We need others to partner with us in prayer, encouragement, and regular financial support. Could God be calling you to join this team?
